Show tf dyllo fi apo e OP karca Q fc ob MD ALL A C co CHAPTER 1 I 1 at the home of hugo chevet it was early autumn for the clus aclus of grapes above me were alread already purple and the forest leaves were tinged with red and yet the air wa was soft and find the golden bars of sun flick t ered down on the work in my lap la through the laced branches of thi the J trellis the work was but a pretense for I 1 had fled the houe houge to escape the th voice of monsieur cassion who wa was still urging my uncle to accompany him on his journey into the wilder ness they sat in the great room be fore the fireplace drinking and I 1 hac had heard enough already to tell me then there was treachery on foot against the bleur de la salle to be sure it was noth ing to me a girl knowing naught of such intrigue yet I 1 had not forgotten the day three years before when this la salle with others of his company bad had halted before the ursul ne con vent and the sisters bade them wei wel come for the night my part tair to help serve and he had stroked my hair in tenderness I 1 had sung to i 11 them and watched h s face in the fire light as he laened never would I 1 forget that tace ace nor believe evil of such a man kanj W no not from the I 1 ps of V carslon nar even from the governor gov einor la barre I 1 rec recoiled billed it all fill now as I 1 sat there in the silence pretend ng to work how we watched them embark in their ca no noca and disappear the indian pad dl rs bending to their task and mon beur eur la salle standing bareheaded as he be waved fa farewell revell beyond him was the dark face of one they called de and in the first boat a mere boy lifted his ragged hat I 1 know not why but the memory of that lad was clearer than all those others for he had bad met me in the hall and we had talked long in the great winlow win low ere the sister came and took me away so I 1 remembered him and h 9 name itene rene d ind in all those years I 1 heard no more into the black wild wilderness ernes they swept and were lost to tho of us at home in new france 0 no o doubt there were those who knew frontenac 13 got those who ruled oer oner us at quebec b but ut not a matter supposed to interest a girl and so no word came to me once I 1 asked my uncle chaiet and he replied in anger with only a few sen bences b d ling me hold my tongue yet he be said enough so that I 1 knew the S eur de la salle lived and had built a fort far away and was buying furs of the indians it was this that brought jealousy and hatred once Mons monsieur leur carslon oame and stopped with us and as I 1 waited on him and uncle chevet I 1 caught words wh ch told me that frontenac was la salle s friend and would listen to no charges brought against him they talked of a new governor yet I 1 learned but lit tie tle for calston attempted to kiss me and I 1 would wait on him no more then frontenac was recalled to france and la barre was governor how pleased my uncle chevet was when the news came and he be rapped the table with his glass and exclaimed ah ali but now we will pluck out the claws of this de la salle and send him where he belongs but he f would explain nothing until a week weel f later carslon came up the river in U his canoe with indian paddlers and stopped to hold conference the lan man li treated me with much gallantry so that I 1 questioned him and he seemed happy to answer that la harre barre had al ready dispatched a party under che iviller I valler de baugis of the king kings dra t goons to take command of la salle s A q I 1 fort st louis in the ilano s country i f la salle had bad returned anu ana was a al ready at quebec but caisson grinned as he boasted that the new governor would not even give him audience bah ball I 1 despised the man yet I 1 alln beside him and thus learned that la salle salles s party consisted of but two voya eurs and the young d I 1 was glad enough when he went away though I 1 gave him my hand to kiss and waved to him bravely at the landing and now he was back again bearing a message from i la barre and seeking volunteers for some western voyage of profit ff of no interest to me unless my uncle tp joined li ln the enterprise yet I 1 was kind enough for he brought with him word of the governor governors s ball at quebec and had atwon won the pledge of chevet to take me there with h in I 1 could be gracious to him for that and it was on my gown I 1 worked as the two planned and talked in secret what f they did was noth ng to me now all t 1 my thought was on the ball what I would you I 1 was 17 5 the grape trellis ran down toward the river landing and from where I 1 T eat sat in the cool shadow I 1 could see the broad water gleaming in the sun sud as my eyes uplifted the dark outline of a canoe swept into the vista and the splashing paddles turned the t prow inward toward our landing I 1 i did not move although I 1 watched with interest tor fol it was not the time of year for indian traders and these were white men I 1 could see those at the paddles voyageurs with gay claths cloths cl about their heads beads but the one yin in the stern stem wore a hat the brim brina con bealing his face and a blue coat I 1 knew not who it could be until the prow touched the bank and he stepped ashore then I 1 knew and bent low over my sewing as though I 1 had seen nothing although my heart beat fast through lowered lashes I 1 saw him give brief order to the men and then advance toward the house alone ah ahl but this was not the slender laugh ng ug eyed boy of three years before th the e wilderness had made of him a man a soldier he paused an instant to gaze about and held his hat in his hand the sun touching hia his tanned cheeks and flecking the long light colored hair mademoiselle he said gently pardon me but is not this the home of hugo chevet the fur trader I 1 looked up into his face and bowed as he swept the earth with his hat bat seeing at a glance that he had no remembrance mem brance rit of me les I 1 answered it if you seek him rap rad on the door belond not so much chevet I 1 seek he said showing no inclination to pass 4 he paused an instant to gaze about and held his hat in his hand me but one whom I 1 understood to be his guest monsieur francois cas sion the man is here I 1 answered quickly yet unable to conceal my sur prise but you will find h in no friend to de la salle ah ali and he stared at me intently in the name of the saints what is the meaning of this lou know me then I 1 bowed yet my eyes remained hid den I 1 knew you once as mons eurs eur friend I 1 said almost regretting my indiscretion and have been told you travel in his company I 1 you ou knew me once he laughed surely that cannot be for never would I 1 be likely to forget I 1 chal lenge you mademoiselle to speak my name the rene d mon by my faith the witch is right and yet in all this new france I 1 know scarce a maid isay nay look up there is naught to fear from me and I 1 would see if memory be not new born saint giles surely true I 1 have seen those eyes before why the name is on my tongue yet falls me lost in the wilderness I 1 pray you mercy mademoiselle you have memory of the face you say ay the witchery of it like a haunting spirit aich N did not haunt long I 1 war rant I 1 am adele la Ches nayne mon he stepped back his eyes on mine questioningly for an instant I 1 be lieveld the name even brought no ta fa millar sound then his face brightened and his eyes smiled as his lips echoed the words adele la Ches nayne ah ali now I 1 know why no less than a mira cle it was a child I 1 thought of under that name a slender brown eyed girl as blithesome as a bird no I 1 had not forgotten only the magic of three 5 ears cars has made of vou tou a woman ogain and again have I 1 questioned in montreal Von treal and quebec but no one seemed to know at the convent they said your father fell in indian skir mish yes ever since then I 1 have lived here with my uncle hugo chevet here he be looked about as though the dreariness of it was first noticed alone Is there no other woman I 1 shook my head but no longer looked at him for fear he might see the tears in my eyes I 1 am the housekeeper monsieur there was nas nothing else for me in france I 1 ana am told my fathers people were well born but this is not france and there was no choice Beside sij was but a child of 14 and IT 17 now mademoiselle 11 and he took tool my hand gallantly pardon if it I 1 have asked questions which bring pain I 1 can understand much tor for in montreal I 1 heard beard tales of this hugo chevet he la Is rough a woodsman I 1 defended yet not unkind to me you will speak him fair he laughed his eyes sparkling with merriment so no fear of my neglecting all cour tesy for I 1 come beseeching a favor I 1 have learned the lesson of when the soft speech wins more than the iron hand band and this other the Commiss alre cas sion slon is he a bird of the same plum age I 1 made a little gesture and glanced back at the closed door oh no he la Is the court courier to stab with words not deeds chevet Is rough of speech and hard of hand but he fights in the open cassion has i a double tongue and one never knows him I 1 glanced up into his sobered face he is a friend of la darre barre so tia said and has been chosen by the governor to bear message to de baugis in the illinois country I 1 seek passage in his company you I 1 thought you were of the party of de la a salle I 1 am he answered honestly yet cassion will need a guide and there Is none save myself in all new france who has ever made that journey twill be well for him to listen to my plan and why not we do not fight the ordera orders of the governor we obey and wait monsieur de la salle will tell his story to the king the Is king ising ing to louis ay twill not be the first time he hag has had audience and already alre idy he is at sea we can wait and laugh at this cassion over his useless journey but he be he be Is treacherous mon moil bleur he laughed as though the words amused to one who has lived as I 1 amid savages treachery is an old story the commis commiss saire alre will not find me asleep we will serve each other and let it go at that ah ali we are to be inter erupted he straightened up facing the door and I 1 turned confronting my uncle as he emerged in advance lie ile was a burly durly man with iron gray hair and face reddened by out of doors and he stopped in surprise at sight of a stranger his eyes hardening with sus biclon and who Is this with whom you converse so privately adele he questioned brusquely a young jay new to these parts I 1 venture D cartigny stepped between us smil ii ng g in good humor my call was upon you monsieur chevet and not the young lady he said quietly enough yet with a tone to the TO voice fee I 1 merely asked her if I 1 had found the right place and if monsieur the Commis saire cassion was stall still your guest and what may I 1 ask might be your business with the Commis saire Cas cassion slon asked the latter pressing past chevet yet bowing with a sem blance of politeness scarcely in ac cord with the studied insolence of his words I 1 have no remembrance of your face then monsieur cassion Is not ob servant returned the younger man pleasantly as I 1 accompanied the S eur de la a salle in his attempt to have audience with the governor vh ill the word of surprise explode ed from the lips sacre true my faith what difference clothes make I 1 mistook you for a courier du bols I 1 am the bleur rene d cartigny lieutenant of la salle s scarcely that monsieur but a comrade for three years I 1 have been N n ith his party and was chosen by him for this mission cassion laughed chucking the gloomy faced chevet in the side as though he wo would uld give point to a good joke and little the trip hither has profit ed either master or man I 1 warrant la barre does not sell new prance france to every adventurer monsieur de la salle found different reception in quebec 1 ec than when frontenac ruled this colony chere here went the fur stealer to whom do you refer tow horn chevet the man would play nice with i words well let it go my young cock and answer me you mean the de la salle to be sure I 1 called him no worse than I 1 have heard la barre speak they say he has left quebec what more know you no secret mons eur replied D cartigny quietly elou enough gh although there was a flash in his eyes as they met mine the bleur de la a salie salle has sailed for france france bah ball you jest there has been no ship outward bound the breton paused at st roche held by the tog fog when the tog fog lifted there was a new passenger aboard by dawn the indian paddlers had me landed in quebec does la barre know faith I 1 could not tell you that as he has not honored me with audi ence cass on strode back and to fo th bis his face dark with passion it was not pleasant news be he had been told and it was plain enough he understood the meaning by the saints he exclaimed a sly fox to break through our guard so easily ay and twill give him a month to whisper bis his lies to I 1 ou s be fore la barre can forward a report but macrel sacre my young chanticleer sure ly you are not here to bring me this bit of news you sought me you said well for what purpose in peace monsieur because I 1 have served S 8 eur de la salle loyally Is no reason why we should be enemies we are both the king s men and may work together the word nord his has come to me that you head a party for the 1111 nois with instructions for de baugis at fort st louis Is this true carslon bowed coldly waiting to discover how much more his ques lioner knew ah ali then I 1 am right thus far well monsieur on that account I 1 came to volunteer as guide you youl atwould be treachery oh no our interests are the same so far as the journey goes I 1 would reach st louis so would you because we may have different ends in view different causes to serve has naught to do with the trail thither there Is not a man who knows the way as well as I 1 four times have I 1 traveled it and I 1 am not a savage monsieur mons leur I 1 am a gentleman of france and you pledge your korv I 1 pledge my word to guide you safe to fort st louis once there I 1 am comrade to de la salle bah bahl I 1 care not whom you corn com rade with once you serve my purpose I 1 take your off offer er and it you play me false restrain your threats monsieur cassion A quarrel will get us no where you lou have my word of honor t s enough who will compose the party carslon hesitated yet seemed to real ze the uselessness of deceit A dozen or more solders sold ers of the regiment of some couriers du bols and the indian paddlers there will be four boats you go by the ottawa and the lakes such were my orders less fatiguing although a longer journey and the time of departure cassion laughed as he turned slight ly and bowed to me we leave quebec before dawn tuesday he be said bavly it Is my wish to enjoy once more the follies of civilization before plunging into the wilderness the governor permits that we remain to hia his ball mademoiselle ie Ches nayne does me the honor of being my guest on that occasion I 1 monsieur I 1 exclaimed in sur prise at his boastful words my uncle who proposed tut tut what of that he inter erupted in no way discomposed it Is my request which opens the golden gates the good hugo here but looks on at a frivolity for which he ile cares nothing the young who dance 1 N cassion Is not likely to be caught asleep my good hugo and you monsieur dArt cartigny Igny am I 1 to meet you there also or perchance later at the boat landing at the ball monsieur three years since I 1 have danced to measure but it will be a joy to look on and thus beep keep company with Mons monsieur leur chevet mr nor shall I 1 tall fall you at the boats until then messieurs and he bowed hat in hand and to you mademoiselle adieu we watched him go down the grape arbor to the canoe and no one spoke but cass on pouf he thinks well vell of himself that young |